Dampier could get bullpen call

But Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the 6-foot-11, 270-pound Dampier would get a chance to throw his weight around against Bucks center Andrew Bogut on Tuesday night.

Joel Anthony had a big game off the bench for Miami against the Bobcats, grabbing a season-high 11 rebounds while playing 35 minutes.

But expect more of 7-3 starter Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Dampier against the Bucks.

"He's on my card tonight," Spoelstra said of Dampier. "Bogut is an impact player down there and you often have to match him with size.

"If you play small against him, he's too big, he's too skilled. Joel will play also. But overall in the last game against Milwaukee - I just watched the game (film) today - Zydrunas and Dampier had an impact because of their size.

"That's why we have the roster we have, to be able to use it. If you want to make an analogy of it, you can probably compare it to being a relief pitcher. 'Damp' knows the games when he'll probably be active and tonight is one of those."

Bucks coach Scott Skiles said he wouldn't be surprised to see Dampier, who had five rebounds in 24 minutes when Miami beat Milwaukee, 88-78, on Dec. 6 at the Bradley Center.

"Dampier has been a good interior defender and I'm sure that's one of the reasons they acquired him," Skiles said. "He has good size, good length; he has a lot of experience.

"Bogues has a lot of guys he can score well against and some other guys he doesn't. And sometimes it's not clear going into the game which guys are which. We'll do what we always do. We'll try to go to Bogues as much as we can and hopefully he can be aggressive down there and get us some scores in the painted area."

The Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will be joined by Ilgauskas and point guard Carlos Arroyo in the starting lineup.

The Bucks will go with Bogut, Ersan Ilyasova, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, John Salmons and Keyon Dooling.

But backup point guard Earl Boykins again will play a major role.

"He gives up a lot from a size standpoint," Skiles said of the 5-5 Boykins, "but he competes. He can shoot the ball and he can score.

"Those are two areas we've struggled mightily in, so we're glad to have him out there."

Skiles said he is still looking at any ways he can improve the Bucks' production but is content at present to bring Boykins off the bench.

"In the situation we're in right now, short so many guys, he's going to get his minutes, anyway," Skiles said.